Biggie vs. Tupac

Let me start by saying this is not a debate between the two hip hop artists. Really, the title should read East Coast vs. West Coast, but wasn’t this more attention grabbing?

I was born in San Diego and when I was 10 years old, moved to Virginia Beach where I grew up for 18 years. I moved back to the West Coast 3 years ago. I have visited San Diego every year for Christmas, for as long as I can remember, and I often go back to the East Coast for weddings. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp to write this article traveling from coast to coast frequently. Now that I am back on the left coast, in my adult years, I notice a lot of differences. Mainly with personalities.

This thought was sparked after my 10 day vacation on the East Coast where I noticed simple differences between the left and right coasts.

Left coasters are eager to learn more about their surroundings and in turn, they learn more about themselves.

As I got off the plane in DC people were walking around with their head held high, not looking down at the sidewalk. They made eye contact with you as you passed by. This, somehow, was foreign to me as I had forgotten this simple gesture was still being practiced out there. People were quick to spark up a conversation with you which could lead to an “a-ha” moment about yourself – I love those realizations. After DC I traveled down to Florida to visit friends in a smaller town. Well, a little smaller than DC.

This is where the true “southern” style really shines.

I know Florida isn’t considered part of the “South” culture, but hear me out. Everywhere we went, and I mean everywhere, there wasn’t one person you walked by that didn’t say hello to you. I was with my friend’s 8 year old kid and I remember her asking me “Do you know that person?” as I said hello to a stranger. I replied, “No, it’s just nice to say hi to people”. I could see the wheels turning in her head and much as they were in mine. Why don’t we say hi to people when we walk down the street everywhere we go, no matter what coast we are on?

Now that I live out on “the Best Coast”, I can say that I do love the personalities out here. From my perspective people are very open-minded and I absolutely love how often people are outdoors. I have seen this from San Diego to San Francisco to Portland and up to Seattle. People love to get out and explore! Restaurants, wineries, breweries, hiking, snowboarding, surfing, etc. Left coasters are eager to learn more about their surroundings and in turn, they learn more about themselves.

I realize there are exceptions to a lot of what I just described so today I will leave you to ask yourself the age old question, “Am I a Biggie or a Tupac?”

Heather fell in love with the PNW 3 years ago after she moved from the east coast. She is not shy to try new adventures and say hello to every pup that crosses her path. Heather's goal in life is to meet as many people as she can and hear their amazing story.

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Heather fell in love with the PNW 3 years ago after she moved from the east coast. She is not shy to try new adventures and say hello to every pup that crosses her path. Heather's goal in life is to meet as many people as she can and hear their amazing story.